Spraying apparatus



May 29, 1951 F. HEUsER 2,554,702

' SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 47 l Fie. 2..

INVENTOR Faso Hause-R BY (auw, Q ATTORNEYS May 29, 1951 v F. HEUsl-:R l 2,554,702

SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed April ll, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR F'RED Hna-USER ATToRNEz Patented May 29, Y1951 UNITEDY STATESI PATE-NT OFFICE SPRAYING APPARATUS Fred Heuser, Gasprt, Application April 11, 1945,'Serial'No. 587,687

Claims. (Cl. 2994-37) This invention relates `to' a sprayer and more particularly to a sprayer adapted for spraying trees for thefcontrolor ridda-nce ofinsects and pests. Mechanical sprayers have been heretoforeV provided for automatically moving the spray nozzle back and forth" for enlarging the 'field' of spray coverage, andA While suchi-machinesare effective to a certain extent, nevertheless they have failed somewhat in reachingmuch of the innerbranch'es" and foliage, especially when the trees have a denseL foliage. v

The primary object ofthe present invention is to provide ahighly efcient-sprayer which is far more effective andl thorugh in its spray application.

A further object of thefinvention is'to provide a sprayer by which the" liquid spray as directed onto the tree will be' given a whirling action* for pentr'ating` theY tree foliage `and branches more thoroughly and more completely.`

A further object of the invention is to provide a spraying apparatus embodying a degree of ilexibility which enables the driver of the towing tractorreadily maintaining directional control of the sprayV equipment'located on the trailer body.

A further object of the invention is toprovidea nozzle having a valve seat so constructed that it will effectively shut off the ilo'wof liquid when closed, thereby avoiding drippingof` fluid from the nozzle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the-preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional* planvv View thereof;

Fig. 3 isa reduced elevationall view of va modied form of thedevice;

Fig.` 4 is a fragmentaryplan view of the control means of Fig'. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of an-l v otherv form of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view, somewhat in diagram, of the tractorand trailer arrangement. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I designates a tractorhaving'coupled thereto a trailer` I2 provided withA spray equipment comprising a motor or gas engine I3 preferably independent ofthe-tractor engine' foroperating a compressor I 4, and atank I5'in which the disinfectant or other spray liquid is contained.` A-tower I6 is mounted adjacent vthe rear end-of the trailer on which' latter is' arranged a'-p1a't" form I'I to be occupied'by'an attendant'- On-the spraytower I 6 are mounted one' or moresprayer units' I 8.l As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, each unit comprises'a sprayer arm I9 having a laterallyextending shaft 20 journaled in a bearing 2| inthe tower frame. The arm I9 is formed with spaced bearings 22 and 23. A pinion 30; provided with a bearing portion 33, is rotatably mounted inthe bearing23, and the tubular shank 24 of the sprayer head V25 is rotatably mounted in the bearing 22.- One end of-the shank is disposed within the pinion 30 in uid tight manner and rotates with the pinion, a suitable stufnng boX 35 beingprovided forthe vshankat thel bearing 22. The sprayer head 2li-is secured directly to the pinion 30 by suitable means 30. The bearing portion 33 of the pinion is preferably `held against axial movementby means `of a collar 3l!v formed thereon.

The head 25 is provided with laterally extending sprayer arms 26 each of which carries a nozzle 2l. A centrally arranged nozzle 28 is also carried bythe head. These nozzles may be of any desired typefthe central nozzle 28 herein illustrated being preferably of the fog type, while the nozzles 2T are preferably of the adjustable type, adjustment being effected in a suitable manner as by the control valve 29. The sprayer head 25 together with the pinion 3Il and shank are journaled in the tubular arm I9 for rotary movement aboutth'e axis of the head, and this rotary movement of the sprayer head 25 with` respect to the sprayer-arm vI9 is preferably imparted while the armfitself is being oscillated vaboutthe axis of its laterally? extending shaft ZIJ. This is readily acco'r'nplshed" by providing a quadrant shaped rack III.,` This` rack` may be formed as a part of a supporting frame 32-v which carries the'bearing 2| forthe shaft-20 and which is xedly mounted on thetower- I6. Consequently, as the spray unit is oscillate'd about'th'e horizontal axis of kshaft 20, th'era'ck 3| will impart a rotary motion to the pinion30 and the sprayer' head 25. This oscillation of the arm about the axis ofsh'aft 20 may bel accomplished mechanically by connecting the rockerarm '3B to a rotating crank 3l by means offalink-35i.` The throw of the crank 31 may be varied by adjusting the crankpin in a slot 39 formed in the crank lplate 40. The crank is rotated atthe desired speed'through a transmission-lllv which may be driven by ashaft 42 suitably connected to thel source of 'power I3. Further adjustmentof'theoscillating movement of arm E9 may be secured by providing a slot 43 in thelrocker arm 36" for adjustably varying the point of v connection 'of link 38 therewith.

Thespray liquid -i's conveyed under vpressure to 3 the sprayer unitv by means of a hose or conduit 44 leading to a swivel coupling 45 and into the passage 46 formed in the shaft 20 which opens into a chamber 41 formed in the inner end of the sprayer arm. The inner end of the shank 24 opens into this chamber, whereby iiuid under pressure is conducted to the sprayer head 25. The conduits 44 are connected to a fiuid line 50 receiving sprayer iiuid under pressure from the tank I5, and a suitable valve I is located in the line 50 at a point accessible to the operator of the tractor I0.

The head 25 of each sprayer unit may be easily detached from the pinion and arm I9, and replaced by one of different size or style. Each nozzle 21 has a removable cap 48 holding a disk 49 on which the valve seats over an orice 49. The control valve 29 is threaded in the nozzle casing, as at 29', and formed with a cupped end 29" which provides a ring contact with the seat forming disk 49 when the valve is seated, the disk being given substantial support by the heavier cap 48. This cupped valve more effectively seals off the liquid against the lodgment of foreign matter on the seat.

In lieu of automatically actuating the nozzle up and down by power, the same may be manually so actuated by an attendant standing on the platform I1 by ilrst disconnecting the power link 38 and then suitably rocking the rocker arm 36. By this arrangement, the arm I9 may be moved up and down so that the pinion in traversing the rack will rotate the sprayer head for producingr the whirling spray.

Where it is desired to place this manual operation under the control of the driver of the tractor, this may be accomplished by means of a control system of the push-pull type. This may comprise a control lever 52 accessible to the operator of the tractor, the lever being connected by suitable fluid transmission to so actuate the nozzle up and down over the rack for obtaining the whirling spray. In Fig. 3, 'there is shown such a system comprising a cylinder 53 and piston 54 mounted on the tractor, the opposite ends of the power cylinder 53 communicating through conduits 55 and 55 to the opposite ends of a work cylinder 51 arranged adjacent the sprayer unit. The tower or mast I6 supporting plural spray units has the rocker arms 36 connected by a link 58 to the piston 59 of the cylinder 51. The piston rod 68 extending from piston 54 is pivotally connected to an actuating block 5I having a socket 63 with which the balled end 64 of the actuating lever 52 is engaged so that by rocking the lever back and forth to reciprocate the piston 54 the yhydraulic transmission will impart like reciprocation to the piston 59 and the connected link 58. This will result in the up and down movement of the sprayer unit and, by reason of the rack and pinion cooperation, also a rotation of the sprayer head.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the vertical tower I6 may also be oscillated about its vertical axis and this will impart a horizontal swinging movement to the sprayer units. For accomplishing this, a crank arm 65 is fixed on the tower and is suitably connected to the piston rod 66 of the cylinder 61. The opposite ends of the work cylinder 61 are connected by conduits 68 and 69 to the opposite ends of a power cylinder 10. The cylinder 19 has its piston 1I pivotally connected to the actuating block 6I by means of the piston rod 12, and the line of reciprocation of the piston 1I is preferably disposed at right angles to the line of movement of the piston 54 whereby either piston may be reciprocated without affecting the companion piston, or by more or less of a diagonal movement of the block 6I both pistons may be actuated simultaneously to a greater or lesser extent. The block 6I may be slidably mounted on a supporting surface 13 to guide the same in its horizontal plane of movement, and the two cylinders 53 and 10 are pivotally secured to this surface so as to permit necessary oscillating movement, as indicated at 53 and 18.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, the whirling action of the spray as well as the up and down movement is accomplished manually. For this purpose, the tubular shank 14 of the sprayer head 89 is extended through the hub portion 15 of the arm 16 to receive a hand wheel 11. The shank is provided with communicating openings 18 as it passes through the arm chamber 19 so that the spray liquid may properly flow to the nozzle. By bodily oscillating the wheel 11 up and down a like movement will be imparted to the sprayer head 86, and by rotating the wheel during this up and down movement the head will be likewise rotated to impart a whirling motion to the spray delivered by the head.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the spray delivered by the sprayer head will have a combined action in which the whirling motion will serve to turn the leaves and foliage in various directions so that the spray will more thoroughly penetrate the foliage and coat the tree for greater efficiency and effectiveness in the control of the insects and other pests encountered.

While the foregoing description has been given in detail, it is not intended thereby to restrict the invention since the inventive principles are capable of assuming other physical embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A spraying machine comprising a supporting structure, a sprayer unit mounted thereon for back and forth movement in a denite path, said sprayer unit having a sprayer arm, a lateral shaft carried by the arm and journaled in said supporting structure, a sprayer head having a shank rotatably disposed within said arm and laterally extending portions formed on said head, the axis of rotation of the shank extending substantially radial of the shaft, a spray nozzle carried by each portion and discharging in the direction of such axis, means for oscillating said unit, and gear means carried by said supporting structure and said head for rotating said unit during oscillation.

2. A spray machine comprising a supporting structure, a sprayer unit mounted thereon for back and forth movement in a definite path and carrying a sprayer head rotatable about an axis extending substantially in the direction of discharge of the spray from the head, a rack carried by the structure alongside the path of movement of the unit, and a gear member carried by the unit in meshing relation to the rack for rotating the head during such back and forth movement whereby to impart a swirling motion to the spray as it issues from the sprayer head during its back and forth movement.

3. A spray machine comprising a supporting structure, a sprayer unit mounted thereon for back and forth movement in a definite path and carrying a sprayer head rotatable about an axis extending substantially in the direction of discharge of the spray from the head, a rack carried by the structure alongside the path of movement of the unit, a gear member carried by the unit in meshing relation to the rack for rotating the head during such back and forth movement, and means for moving the unit back and forth whereby to cause the gear member to track upon the rack and rotate the head simultaneously therewith for imparting a whirling motion to the spray issuing from the traveling sprayer head.`

4. A spray machine for trees and shrubs, comprising a sprayer unit mounted for back and forth movement and carrying an independently rotatable sprayer head rotatable about an axis extending transverse of the path of movement of the unit, said head having a discharge orifice olf-center from the axis of rotation but discharging in the direction of axis extent, means for actuating the unit back and forth, means for rotating the sprayer head while the unit is being so actuated back and forth, whereby to produce an advancing motion to the spray for turning the leaves and smaller branches of a tree or shrub so as to expose the under side of the leaves and to open the interior of the foliage to the direct action of the spray, means mounting the sprayer unit with its actuating means for movement as an entirety back and forth in a direction laterally of the path of the rst back and forth movement of the sprayer head and laterally of the direction of movement of the advancing whirling spray issuing therefrom, means for so actuating the entirety back and forth, and means common to both actuating means for selectably controlling their operation.

5. A spray apparatus including a support, a spray unit mounted on the support for movement in a path back and forth and having a spray nozzle rotatable about an axis crosswise of the path and issuing a spray substantially in the direction of extent of the axis for producing an advancing whirling spray, means operatively connected to the unit for imparting such movement thereto, means operable by and during the movement of the unit back and forth for imparting such whirling motion to the spray issuing therefrom, and means operable by said rst means for adjusting the support in a path sidewise to the back and forth movement of the unit.

FRED HEUSER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

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